Hearing this, Zhiwen raised his head and looked at Ma Er deeply, and after a long time, he asked, "Second Brother Ma, have you heard any rumors?" ”

The cost of finding out the news is indeed not small, in addition to the fact that their brothers have to spend money and food to eat horses and chew, the villagers around Zhuolu Mountain kindly provide news, and there are also helpers, asking the little two of each store, they all have to take money to open the way, and after some operation, the news obtained may not all be useful, and the money spent can only be regarded as a waste, this Zhiwen is mentally prepared.

So even if Song Caijie and Li Zhi complained to him a little bit, Ma Er spent too much money, Zhiwen never took it to heart, let alone the idea of reducing Ma Er's usefulness, "Those who do not seek the overall situation are not enough to seek a domain" He still understands the truth, and if you want to seek the overall situation, you can't be blind and deaf.

Could it be that this Ma Er heard something unfavorable to himself?

Zhiwen shook his head secretly, he was a little unconvinced, Song Caijie and Li Zhi's complaints were very private, Zhiwen expressed his attitude on the spot, and he would not reduce Ma Er's usefulness.

How to manage Zhuolushan internally, it really needs to be considered, Zhiwen's current thoughts, one is that in the future, all ministries will be made into a two-headed system, which can be regarded as having a check on each other, and second, there must be an internal audit and supervision department, he thinks Song Caijie is suitable for this.

However, Zhiwen didn't tell anyone about these things, it was the complaints of Song Caijie and Li Zhi, and they were also warned not to spread the word, he would find an opportunity to talk to Ma Er about this matter, and I believe that Ma Er should not hear any news, so it is a little strange that he is willing to cut off the use of the degree.

"Rumors? What rumors? No no. Ma Er hurriedly denied, "I just feel that my expenses are too big, but there is not much really useful information, and the money is not worth it." ”

It is estimated that it was the performance of the flesh pain when Li Zhi and Song Caijie spent money on him, which made Ma Er retreat a little, in fact, during Zhiwen's absence, it was Song Xiance who was really in charge of money and food, Li Zhi was just an assistant, and Song Caijie was in charge of the warehouse and was responsible for distribution, but Song Xiance never mentioned to Zhiwen about the excessive cost of spies, and he also knew that the input and output of the news were not consistent.

"You can't say that, Second Brother Ma." Zhiwen said with relief, "Finding out the news is not the same as planting crops, it's not that you can get back how much effort you make, I still know this, what is worth it or not." ”

"Zhiwen, you..." Ma Erteng stood up, but he was speechless for a while, and only said after a while, "Thank you, Zhiwen, don't worry, I won't let you down." ”

It seems that it was Song Caijie and Li Zhi's attitude that put pressure on him, and Zhiwen secretly said that he had to find an opportunity to talk to these two people and let them not be so harsh.

"That's it? Second Brother Ma. ”

"No... Not only that, actually, I... I really have something to tell you. Ma Er spoke again.

"If you have something, just say it," Zhiwen said, "We have been together for so long, we are all our own people, and you still see each other like this?" ”

"That's... That's all I said! ”

"Stop grinding, Second Brother Ma, say it quickly."

"That's right, Zhiwen, I went out to inquire about the news in the past six months, and met some old brothers, uh, in fact, there are a few women, even if they are old acquaintances, they all want to follow me again, begging for food, or making some extra money, in short, I just want to be our peripheral personnel, there are a lot of these people, the expenses are too great, I haven't agreed yet." Ma Er said.

"Oh, Second Brother Ma still has acquaintances around here?" Zhiwen is a little strange, didn't he flee from northern Shaanxi with him, how can there be so many people who have known each other before, and it seems that the words he just said that he wanted to cut off some expenses should be to throw stones and ask for directions, if he really agreed to his suggestion, there would be no next words, this Ma Er, and moved some hearts.

"This... Zhiwen, let's be honest with you, I used to... It's Jinyiwei. Ma Er's words are simply earth-shattering.

"Shrimp... Shrimp? Zhiwen's mouth was unclear, "I heard you right, Second Brother Ma, are you Jinyiwei?" ”

Ma Er was a little at a loss, "Really... Really, I don't lie to you, Zhiwen. ”

After that, he touched his body for a long time, took out a waist card and handed it to Zhiwen.

Zhiwen took this exquisite waist card, and it took a lot of effort to recognize the three complicated seal characters on one side of the brand: "Jinyi Wei".

Then turn to the other side, the same two seal characters, these two words are not simple, but the second word is a "flag" word, the first word is so complicated, it should not be a "small" word, that is the word "total".

Zhiwen believed Ma Er's words a little, but it was difficult for him to associate the impression of the brocade guard wearing a flying fish suit, an embroidered spring knife at his waist, and a Yan Luo book, with the sloppy rough man in front of him who was spurting wine.

"Second Brother Ma, are you still a general banner?" Zhiwen asked.

Ma Er nodded a little embarrassedly.

"Tell me, what's going on?" Zhiwen was very curious, and asked again and again, what was the reason why a dignified Jinyi Wei Zongqi became a member of the fleeing army in northern Shaanxi, and once lived by stealing.

"Uh, Zhiwen, Jinyiwei is not what you think." As soon as Ma Eryi saw Zhiwen's expression, he knew what he was thinking, "That's a long story." ”

Zhiwen's idea just now is indeed right, Ma Er suggested that he cut off some sentinels at the beginning today, it was indeed tentative, if Zhiwen really agreed, then Ma Er would not say the next words.

However, after Zhiwen refused, Ma Er had no intention of hiding it anymore, and told his origin in 1510.

The freshly dressed and angry horses and the flying and domineering Jinyi guards seen in later generations of film and television literature and art are indeed members of the Jinyi Guard, but compared with the real huge and complicated brocade system, it is the tip of the iceberg.

The duties of these glamorous and glamorous people in flying fish costumes were mainly to arrest and torture, and the number of them was not large, but there were fourteen thousand households, and at most there were no more than seventeen.

Jinyiwei was known as a spy agency in later generations, naturally mainly to spy on intelligence, the number of these people is too much, hidden in the crowd of people, they may be beggars, maybe shopkeepers, maybe peddlers, maybe official prostitutes and kiln sisters, in short, any inconspicuous little person, may be Jinyi spies.

Among them, the largest and largest number of brocade spies are servants, maids, cooks, etc., at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, whether Zhu Yuanzhang was afraid of his subordinates rebelling, or in order to prevent them from embezzlement, many spies were placed in the mansions of the courtiers.

One of the most famous allusions is that Song Lian, a famous minister at the time, had a treat one night, and the next day Zhu Yuanzhang asked him what he did the night before, Song Lian was a sincere person, and answered honestly, and when he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with a smile and said that Song Lian did not lie.